Bath-Hawarden Station

[Geronimo]

Hello,

My wife is visiting the Gladstone Library in Hawarden in early December and is confused by the travel options.

AFAICT, it's either BTH-CTR, then a bus or taxi to Hawarden, or BTH-HWD.

The later seems cheaper (the anytime return looks especially good value at 73.60) and with less changes. Might be slightly longer (esp. if using a taxi from Chester), but not by much.

BUT the bulk of that journey is Newport-Wrexham on Arriva. What type of train would that be? Comfortable and conclusive to quiet reading and working? Scenic perhaps?

Less importantly, are there obvious good splits?

Thanks in advance

 

[yorkie]

Hello,

My wife is visiting the Gladstone Library in Hawarden in early December and is confused by the travel options.

AFAICT, it's either BTH-CTR, then a bus or taxi to Hawarden, or BTH-HWD.

The later seems cheaper (the anytime return looks especially good value at 73.60) and with less changes. Might be slightly longer (esp. if using a taxi from Chester), but not by much.

BUT the bulk of that journey is Newport-Wrexham on Arriva. What type of train would that be? Comfortable and conclusive to quiet reading and working? Scenic perhaps?

175 or 158.

Yes, it is fairly scenic I'd say.

Less importantly, are there obvious good splits?

Thanks in advance

Trainsplit.com identifies a small saving to be had by splitting at Hope (Flintshire).

 

[Geronimo]

175 or 158.

Yes, it is fairly scenic I'd say.

Trainsplit.com identifies a small saving to be had by splitting at Hope (Flintshire).

Brilliant, thank you.

 

[krus_aragon]

A 175 is more likely than a 158 for Cardiff - Wrexham, but unless leaving Newport in the rush hour, your wife should easily be able to find a table seat on either unit. The only significant downside is that you won't find any power sockets on 175s.

 

[Geronimo]

A 175 is more likely than a 158 for Cardiff - Wrexham, but unless leaving Newport in the rush hour, your wife should easily be able to find a table seat on either unit. The only significant downside is that you won't find any power sockets on 175s.

All extremely useful, thanks a lot (I don't think I have ever set foot on a 175)

 

[30907]

The Library is within easy walking distance of Hawarden station, though IIRC the bus stops even closer.

 

[kieron]

175s don't have any tables in coach C (the end coach which isn't next to the wheelchair-friendly toilet), but the other coach(es) have some.

The original post says something about trains to Hawarden being cheaper than ones to Chester. Ones to Chester are actually cheaper, but I think what was being observed was that journeys via Hereford are cheaper than ones via Cheltenham. A Bath-Hawarden return is £73.60 via Hereford and at least £85.30 via Cheltenham. Bath-Chester is £67 via Hereford, £77.50 via Cheltenham, and Bath-Hope £65.30 or £75.60.

There are 'buses between Chester and Hawarden which I think follow a route a taxi is likely to take. Some go to Hawarden from Chester railway station (the "4" to Mold, apparently does); others involve a change en route. It's hard to tell whether this would be quicker than catching a train the whole way, though. The train's faster, but it could mean a long wait in Wrexham.

 

[Polarbear]

As regards the bus, Arriva Wales operate services 4 & X44 from Chester railway station to Mold & both of these routes pass through Hawarden. Between them, it's 3 buses per hour daytime weekdays.

Service 11 from Chester to Rhyl also passes through Hawarden (30 min frequency weekdays, hourly Sundays) but this starts from the bus exchange behind the Town Hall in Chester & not the rail station.

 

[headshot119]

175s don't have any tables in coach C (the end coach which isn't next to the wheelchair-friendly toilet), but the other coach(es) have some.

The original post says something about trains to Hawarden being cheaper than ones to Chester. Ones to Chester are actually cheaper, but I think what was being observed was that journeys via Hereford are cheaper than ones via Cheltenham. A Bath-Hawarden return is £73.60 via Hereford and at least £85.30 via Cheltenham. Bath-Chester is £67 via Hereford, £77.50 via Cheltenham, and Bath-Hope £65.30 or £75.60.

There are 'buses between Chester and Hawarden which I think follow a route a taxi is likely to take. Some go to Hawarden from Chester railway station (the "4" to Mold, apparently does); others involve a change en route. It's hard to tell whether this would be quicker than catching a train the whole way, though. The train's faster, but it could mean a long wait in Wrexham.

Class 175s have tables in all coaches.